Method and system for validating logical end-to-end access paths in storage area networks
First Claim
1. A process for validating a state of a storage area network (SAN), comprising the steps of:
- defining a SAN access path policy representative of SAN logical access paths, said SAN logical access paths defining end-to-end access relationships between an application on a server, a sequence of one or more switches and physical links in the SAN, and data LUNs stored on storage devices in the SAN and having for the logical access paths an associated set of logical access path attributes consisting of at least one of a number of hops within a valid logical access path, a level of end-to-end redundancy for a valid logical access path, and a number of allocated ports for a valid logical access path, wherein the SAN access path policy includes a list of valid access paths and an associated set of access path attributes for the valid access paths,collecting configuration information from devices of the SAN, standardizing formats of the configuration information and reconciling conflicts,processing the collected configuration information to identify the SAN logical access paths, and computing the associated access path attribute values,defining a state of the SAN based on SAN logical access path attribute values associated with the SAN logical access paths, the attribute values consisting of at least one of a number of hops within a valid logical access path, a level of end-to-end redundancy for a valid logical access path, and a number of allocated ports for a valid logical access path, andcomparing the identified SAN logical access paths and computed access path attribute values with the list of valid access paths and associated set of access path attributes for the valid access paths in the SAN access path policy to identify any logical access path discrepancies or violations, thereby validating the state of the SAN.
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Abstract
A method and system for validating logical access path in a storage area network is provided. It supports definition of a SAN access path policy that represent which application to data LUN logical access paths should not exist, which should exist, and what should be the end-to-end attributes of each. It performs the SAN-customized graph-based validation algorithm based on information it collects automatically from devices distributed across the SAN using a variety of non-intrusive mechanisms. It enables to identify violations of actual logical access paths relative to the required access paths as determined by the policy. It enables notification about violations, with all their relevant context information, to the appropriate target recipient using a variety of means.
95 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A process for validating a state of a storage area network (SAN), comprising the steps of:
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defining a SAN access path policy representative of SAN logical access paths, said SAN logical access paths defining end-to-end access relationships between an application on a server, a sequence of one or more switches and physical links in the SAN, and data LUNs stored on storage devices in the SAN and having for the logical access paths an associated set of logical access path attributes consisting of at least one of a number of hops within a valid logical access path, a level of end-to-end redundancy for a valid logical access path, and a number of allocated ports for a valid logical access path, wherein the SAN access path policy includes a list of valid access paths and an associated set of access path attributes for the valid access paths, collecting configuration information from devices of the SAN, standardizing formats of the configuration information and reconciling conflicts, processing the collected configuration information to identify the SAN logical access paths, and computing the associated access path attribute values, defining a state of the SAN based on SAN logical access path attribute values associated with the SAN logical access paths, the attribute values consisting of at least one of a number of hops within a valid logical access path, a level of end-to-end redundancy for a valid logical access path, and a number of allocated ports for a valid logical access path, and comparing the identified SAN logical access paths and computed access path attribute values with the list of valid access paths and associated set of access path attributes for the valid access paths in the SAN access path policy to identify any logical access path discrepancies or violations, thereby validating the state of the SAN. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 19)
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11. A process for validating a state change event of a storage area network (SAN), comprising the steps of:
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defining a SAN access path policy representative of SAN logical access paths, said SAN logical access paths defining end-to-end access relationships between an application on a server, a sequence of one or more switches and physical links in the SAN, and data LUNs stored on storage devices in the SAN and having for the logical access paths an associated set of logical access path attributes consisting of at least one of a number of hops within a valid logical access path, a level of end-to-end redundancy for a valid logical access path, and a number of allocated ports for a valid logical access path, wherein the SAN access path policy includes a list of valid access paths and an associated set of access path attributes for the valid access paths, collecting configuration information from devices of the SAN, standardizing formats of the configuration information and reconciling conflicts, processing the collected configuration information to identify the SAN logical access paths, and computing the associated logical access oath attribute values, defining a SAN state based on SAN logical access paths and attribute values associated with the logical access paths consisting of at least one of a number of hops within a valid logical access path, a level of end-to-end redundancy for a valid logical access path, and a number of allocated ports for a valid logical access path, obtaining SAN event description information, and comparing the SAN event description information with the SAN state to identify any logical path discrepancies or violations, thereby validating the state change event of the SAN. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22)
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15. A storage area network (SAN) validation manager, comprising:
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a policy engine that stores a SAN access path policy representative of SAN logical access paths, said SAN logical access paths defining end-to-end access relationship between an application on a server, a sequence of one or more switches and physical links in the SAN, and data LUNs stored on storage devices in the SAN and having for the logical access path attributes an associated set of logical access path attributes consisting of at least one of a number of hops within a valid logical access path, a level of end-to-end redundancy for a valid logical access path, and a number of allocated ports for a valid logical access path, wherein the SAN access path policy includes a list of valid access paths and an associated set of access path attributes for the valid access paths, a validation engine that collects configuration information from devices of the SAN, standardizes formats of the configuration information and reconciles any conflicts, the validation engine further processing the collected configuration information to identify the SAN logical access paths and computing the associated logical access path attribute values, and comparing the identified SAN logical access paths and computed logical access path attribute values with the list of valid access paths and associated set of access path attributes for the valid access paths in the SAN access path policy to identify any logical access path discrepancies or violations. - View Dependent Claims (16, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification